Advice about projection needed.

Lateley I've been paring back on the home theater stuff because my interest level has been waning for years. On the audio side I've gotten rid of my (MSRP $2000+) separates and gone back to an old DD reciever (MSRP $600 in 1997) which I'm 100% perfectly happy with.

However, my TV, an 8 year old Mitsubishi, just died.

I am not willing to spend a significant amount of money replacing it. I was perfeclty happy with the picture from this unit, and willing to live with it indefinitely. However, from searching on the web I think it may cost me upwards of $400 to get it repaired. This is not an unusual problem with these sets.

Give me some options HTFers. I need to keep the investment under $1000 (way under if possible). My room is light controlled and I can do front projection. I even have the power outlet int he ceiling, and I'm able to build a mount. I'm willing to use grey flat paint as my screen, as I've been very impressed with Scooter's white flat paint screen during scooterfests.

Used, new, doesn't matter. Great deal somewhere? Fix my set? That's an option, too as I'm very happy with it. I need to do this as cheap as possible. Picture quality is largely irrelevant, I'm sure anything will make me happy at this point. I am NOT a nit picking HTfile anymore.

Yeah, I know about the X1. It's top on my list. It's got some wacky UI though - either you plug in S-Video or Component. It's either/or. I'd rather just have both inputs on the projector since I'd be running running S from satelite and LD and SVHS but component from DVD.

How does the Sanyo Z1 do with native 4x3 material? Specifically letterboxed non-16x9 stuff? Looks like the X1 is set up really good for a 4x3 screen with 16x9 in the middle. This is what I would like, massive monster 4:3 material with letterboxed 16:9 in the middle.

I'm 99% decided on a low end Infocus projector. The only question is X1 or X2? The X2 has 60% more lumens and I'd like brightness, but the X1 has the Farudja DCDi chip. I think the Faroudja chip is what I want for all my LDs.

I have not seen a DLP in action looking for Rainbow artifats. I may hate them.

I don't have a progressive capable DVD player, and I'm not going to buy one. I plan on running VHS, LD, Low-Def Dish Network as composite (I know it's crazy), DVD as 480i, and possible HD Dish Net as 480P or whatever into the VGA slot.

If you're going to run DVD via 480i, you need a projector with a very good scaler onboard. Ditto if you want to run SD TV on it. The smallest image flaws leap out at you when you're running FP size. 480p from the DVD player really makes a big difference versus s-video at 80-100". Just an FYI.

Matheson- "There are probably some who'll say that by doing this, we are interfering with their culture."

I'd avoid the X2, I heard it has features missing that make the X1 great (X2 has no Faroudja scaler, not as tweakable).

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him...a super-callused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

I briefly ran OTA HDTV from our local channels on my X1. It was for a superbowl party. Of course, our local channel was running SD upconverted to 480p. Looked like crap. I ended up selling the tuner because we never watch TV. But the HD I did watch on the other channels was beautiful - better than DVD. Downscaled HD looks very good on a 480p projector.

Yeah, along with avoiding the X2, the X1a is a Faroudja-stripped X1. Avoid it like the plague!

Matheson- "There are probably some who'll say that by doing this, we are interfering with their culture."

Moderator

Order the X1 from Infocus themselves. They will let you try it out at home and return it if it doesn't work out for you. And with the rebate they are running if you don't have any problems with the "rainbow" artifact you really can't go wrong with this projector. In your light controlled environment the picture should be fantastic.

Parker

"I tried to get my medical records from the company but they say they
are confidential and can only be released to other insurance companies,
pharmaceutical reps, suppliers of medical equipment and for some
reason the RNC."

Actually before I proceed I'm going to have a qualified technician look at my Mitsubishi 50" NTSC RPTV. If I can repair it for under $250 I'm going to do that. My local repair shop, who will probably be making a house call next weekend, think that they can do it for under $200. If that fails, then I'll go for the X1.

And a generous local HTFer has graciously invited me to his place to see his DLP in action to look for rainbows and if they annoy me.